UNDER THE BED: The illegal shotgun which police allegedly found hidden in the Ogunbil Rd home at Dungowan. 200516BCA01AN ILLEGAL shotgun, as well as more than $100,000 worth of drugs, have been seized in a police raid near Tamworth.

A tip-off to Crime Stoppers triggered the search warrant at Ogunbil Rd in Dungowan on Thursday afternoon, which saw a team of officers from Oxley detectives and the Tamworth Target Action Group comb the property, home and surrounding sheds.

During the search, police discovered more than 10kg of what is believed to be cannabis leaf, as well as 14 cannabis plants and Oxley Acting Inspector Geoff Sharpe told The Leader the drugs have an estimated street value of $118,000.

“A 47-year-old male occupant, was spoken to at that address. He then assisted police in relation to that search,” he said.

BUSTED: Fourteen cannabis plants, pictured, along with more than 10kg of what is believed to be cannabis leaf was seized during the Dungowan raid. Photos: Breanna Chillingworth 200516BCA05

“A firearm, an unregistered shotgun, was located underneath the bed inside theresidence.”

The man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was questioned by investigators and charged with six offences.

“Police allege he made full admissions to the cultivation of the plants, possession of the leaf, and he was charged in relation to supply cannabis and cultivate plants and possession of an unauthorised firearm and ammunition,” Acting Inspector Sharpe said.

The man was released on conditional bail to front court next month.

The firearm – the fourth illegal gun seized since Tuesday in the Oxley Command – will now undergo forensics and ballistics testing.

“It’s a serious matter in so far as people that are engaging in criminal activity through the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs are arming themselves with unregistered firearms, which is a concern,” Acting Inspector Sharpe said.

“Any information in relation to firearms we take very, very seriously and we do everything we can to try and get those firearms off the streets.”

Acting Inspector Sharpe said this particular raid was a result of the public contacting Crime Stoppers.

“Those files do get actioned and, if it wasn’t for Crime Stoppers, we wouldn’t have been able to get this amount of drugs or the firearm off the street,” he said.

“It is a significant quantity of cannabis and this, combined with the raid earlier in the week, shows that if we do get information about crops being cultivated on some of our rural properties, we will respond.”